Slider for slide fasteners



Sept. 5, 1950 N. J. POUX 2,521,651

SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Nov. 17, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

Noel J Pour.

' TTORNE).

Patented sq. s, 1950 sunna non SLIDE FASTENERS Noel J. You, Meadville,Pa., assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationNovember 17, 1948, Serial No. 60,478

13 Claims.

This invention relates to slide fasteners, and particularly to animproved automatic lock slider therefor.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improvedautomatic or self-locking slider for slide fasteners which is simple andinexpensive in its construction and manufacture and, at the sametime,durable, efficient, and effective in its operation and use.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a lock sliderwhich embodies such features of construction as to increase materiallythe ease and convenience of assembling the component parts thereof and,consequently, reducing materially the manufacturing costs of such aslider.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be moreapparent in the course of the following specification, and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose ofillustration, an embodiment and a modification thereof which myinvention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a slide fastener having the improved lockslider of my invention incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the fastener and slider, as shown in Fig. 1,showing the locking cap member in its locked position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the upper portion of the slider ofthe present invention, showing the locking cap member in its unlockedposition;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking spring member in accordancewith my invention; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of a modification of the slider of myinvention, showing the locking cap member in its normal or lockedposition.

In United States Letters Patent No. 1,966,457, granted July 17, 1934, toSamuel H. Norton and Peder Nedal, there is shown an automatic lockslider for slide fasteners wherein the locking member is in the form ofan elongated hollow sheet metal cap-like member which overlies alongitudinally extending lug on the top wing of the slider body and ispivotally secured thereto at one end thereof. The free end of thelocking member is provided with a locking prong or projection adapted toproject into the channel of the slider into locking engagement with thefastener elements of the fastener.

In order to projectthe locking projection of the locking memberinto'locking engagement with the fastener elements, the locking memberis maintained normally in locking position by a leaf spring secured tothe upper side of the longitudinally extending lug and abutting theinner top wall of the locking member for constantly biasing the lockingmember about its pivotal connection toward locking position. Because oftheir small size, it is extremely difficult to handle and assemble suchleaf springs which must be attached to the lug of the slider before thelocking member is assembled thereon and attached thereto. Also, thepositioning of the leaf spring on the top side of the lug tends toincrease the overall thickness of the slider which is, of course,objectionable. According to the present invention, these difficultiesand objections are eliminated by the use of a relatively large leafspring member which can be easily handled and attached to the sliderbody and which is positioned between the body of the slider and thebottom of the locking member so as to reduce to a minimum the overallthickness of the slider.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1, aconventional type of slide fastener comprising cooperating rows ofspaced interlocking fastener elements 2 attached to opposed beaded edgesof tapes or stringers I. There is arranged on the rows of fastenerelements, a. slider, generally designated at 4, for longitudinalmovement in opposite directions therealong for opening and closing thefastener in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

Such a slider consists generally of a channeled body member consistingof spaced-apart upper and lower wings 5 and 6, respectively, which areflanged at opposite edges, as at 1, and connected at the top end thereofby means of a V-shaped neck 8 so as to provide a Y-shaped channel withinthe slider body.

According to the present invention, there is positioned on the outerside of the top or upper wing 5 of the slider body centrally thereof, apair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending lugs 9 and I0 so as toprovide an opening I2 therebetween for a purpose hereinafter to bedescribed. There is mounted on the lugs 9 and ill, a caplike lookingmember 13 which is preferably a hollow sheet metal member having a frontwall l4, a rear wall I5, and sidewalls Hi. There is arranged with eachof the side walls iii in staggered relation, a locking projection orprong I! which extends into and through an opening I! in the upper ortop wing 5 of the slider with the extreme end of the prong projectinginto the channel of the slider body so as to lock the slider in a mannerwell known. The locking member I! is pivotally attached adjacent therear end thereof to the rear lug In by projections l9 extending intoholes i9a, as shown in Fig. 3. The front lug 9 is preferably undercut,as at 20, so as to provide a projecting portion 2| which cooperates withthe inturned lip or shoulder 22 of the front wall l4 so as to limit theoutward movement of 3 the locking member. There is provided a pullmember it having a trunnion portion 24 which is disposed in the space itbetween the lugs O and II, with this trunnion portion cooperating withthe inclined surface II on the side walls ll of the locking member tolift the same upwardly so as to release the locking projections I! fromengagement with the fastener elements when it is desired to move theslider therealong.

There is provided an elongated leaf spring member N, as clearly shown inFig. 6, having a rectangular-shaped aperture 21 arranged thereinadjacent one end thereof and having a forwardly projecting portion 28 onone side of the aperture, and a rearwardly projecting portion 1! on theopposite side thereof. This leaf springmember is made preferably ofrelatively thin spring steel and is positioned on the slider body withthe rear lug il extending up through the aperture 21 so that the springis disposed around the lug with the forwardly projecting portion 18positioned in the space I! between the lugs I and II, as clearly shownin Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. There is provided preferably a grooveor recessed portion ill in the top wing of the slider in which the leafspring member is disposed. It is preferable that the distance, which isdesignated at a, from the extreme front end of the forwardly projectingportion 2! to the front end of the aperture 21 in the leaf spring beslightly greater than the distance between the two lugs I and I0 so thatthis forwardly extending portion will fit tightly therebetween. Each ofthe lugs I and I0 is struck up and downwardly, as at II, .over the topof the forwardly rojecting portion 28 so as to hold securely the leafspring in position on the slider body. When the leaf spring is forcedinto position, as described, it'has been found that the rearwardlyprojecting portion 29 will turn or bow upwardly, as clearly shown inFig. 2, so as to abut the lower under side of the rear wall I! of thelocking member II, as at 32. It will be understood that the aperture 11in the leaf spring 26 is slightly larger than the rear lug ill so as toprovide clearance, as at 33, between the rearwardly extending portion 2!and the lug whereby free movement of this end of the leaf springrelative to the lug II and the slider body is permitted.

In assembling the slider, it will be understood that the leaf springmember 28 is first assembled thereon, as described, and that the lockingmember it, together with the pull member 23, is then mounted thereonwith the trunnion portion of the pull member 24 being positioned in thespace I! between the lugs 9 and iii and between the locking member itand the inclined surfaces II of the side walls It of the locking member.

In actuating the slider by means of the pull member 23 to open thefastener, it will be seen that the trunnion portion 24 of the pullcooperates with the inclined surfaces 25 of the side walls of thelocking member to move the same about its pivotal connection ll wherebythe locking projections I! are moved out of engagement in the sliderchannel with the fastener elements therein. When the pull member isreleased, it will be understood that the locking member I! is moved toits locked position about the pivotal connection II by the action of therearwardly projecting portion 2! of the leaf spring member 28 which atall times abuts the under side of the rear wall I! of the locking memberso as to hold normally the locking projection I! in locking position inthe channel of the slider.

InPigJofthedrawinIathereisshownaslight modification of the lock sliderof my invention. In this construction, the leaf spring member 2| restson the top surface of the u per or top winglofthesliderinsteadofbcingdisposedina groove or slot in the surfacethereof, as in the preferred embodiment.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided animproved automatic lock slider for slide fasteners having a pring memberwhich can be conveniently and easily attached to the slider body. Itwill also be seen that by providlng such a construction that the overallthickuses of the slider is reduced to a minimum primarily due to thelocation of the spring, which is a decided advantage especially in theassembly and functioning of relatively small sliders.

While I have shown and described several embodiments which my inventionmay assume in practice, it will be understood that these embodiments aremerely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that otherforms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in theappended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider body having achannel therein for receiving the fastener elements, a lug projectingfrom the upper wing of said slider body, an elongated locking memberhaving one end thereof pivotally connected to said lug and a lockingprojection arranged on the opposite free end of said member which isadapted to project into the channel of said slider, a flat leaf springmember mounted on said slider body and disposed directly next to theupper wing thereof and extending around said lug to the outer sidethereof with the free end thereof abutting the under side of saidlocking member on the outer side of said lug and acting on said memberto hold the same normally in locked position, and means for moving saidlocking member to unlocked position automatically when the slider ismanipulated to operate the fastener.

2. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider, as defined inclaim 1, including another lug arranged on the top wing of said sliderand spaced from said first mentioned lug with the locking memberbridging said lugs, and means carried by said second mentioned lug forlimiting the outward movement of said locking member with the pullmovably connected to said locking member between said lugs by thebridging action of said locking member.

3. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider having a channeltherein for receiving the fastener elements, a lug projecting from theupper wing of said slider, an elongated locking member having one endthereof pivotally connected to said lug and a locking projectionarranged on the opposite free end of said member which is adapted toproject into the channel of said slider, a flat leaf spring memberdi:posed directly next to the upper wing of said slider and attachedthereto to the inner side of said lug and extending around to theopposite side thereof with the free end thereof abutting the under sideof said locking member on that side of said lug and acting on saidmember to hold the same normally in locked position, and a pull membermovably attached to said locking member and adapted to move the same tounlocked position automatically when the pull is manipulated to move theslider along the fastener.

4. In a slide fastenerof the class described, a

slider having a channel therein for receiving the fastener elements, alug projecting from the upper wing of said slider, an elongated lockingmember having one end thereof pivotally connected to said lug and alocking projection arranged on the opposite free end of said memberwhich is adapted to project 'nto the channel of said slider, a flat leafspring ember attached to said slider to one side of said lug with thefree end thereof ex: tending to the opposite side of said lug and havingan aperture arranged therein through which said lug extends so that saidspring is disposed around said lug, the free end of said spring abuttingthe under side of the locking member adjacent the end thereof on thatside of the lug and acting to hold the same normally in locked position,and a pull member movably attached to said locking member and adapted tomove the same to unlocked position automatically when the pull ismanipulated to move the slider along the fastener. I

5. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider having a channeltherein for receiving the fastener elements, a pair of spaced-apart lugsprojecting from the upper wing of said slider, an

elongated locking member having one end thereof pivotally connected toone of said lugs and a locking projection arranged on the opposite freeend of said member which is adapt d to project into the channel of saidslider, a fiat leaf spring member having a portion thereof disposed inthe space between the lugs and attached thereto so as to lie directlynext to the body of the slider, another portion of said leaf springextending outwardly and upwardly to a point around and beyond that lugto which said locking member is pivotally connected and abutting theunder side of said locking member on that side of said lug and acting onsaid member to hold the same normally in locked position, and means formoving said locking member to unlocked position.

6. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider as defined inclaim 5, including means carried by the other of said outwardlyprojecting lugs for limiting the outward movement of said lockingmember.

7. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider as defined inclaim 5, wherein the locking member bridges the space between said lugsand a pull member having the trunnion portion thereof loosely disposedin said space so as to be attached to said slider between said lugs bysaid locking member which is secured movably to said lugs.

8. In a slide fastener of the class described, a

slider having a channel therein for receiving the fastener elements, apair of spaced-apart lugs projecting from the upper wing of said slider,an elongated locking member having one end thereof pivotally connectedto one of said lugs and a locking projection arranged on the oppositefree end of said member which is adapted to project into the channel ofsaid slider, a flat leaf spring member having a portion thereof disposedbetween the space between said lugs so as to lie directly next to thebody of the slider and attached securely thereto, another portion ofsaid leaf spring straddling that lug to which said looking member ispivotally connected and extending outwardly and upwardly to a pointaround and therebeyond so as to abut the under side of said lockingmember on that side of said lug and acting on said member to hold thesame normally in locked position, and means for moving said lockingmember to unlocked position.

9. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider as defined inclaim 8, wherein the locking member bridges the space between said lugsand a pull member having the trunnion portion thereof loosely disposedin said space so as to be attached to said slider between said lugs bysaid locking member which is secured movably to said lugs. V

10. In a slide fastener of the class described, as defined in claim 8,wherein the material on the inner side of the lugs is struck up to holdthe leaf spring member securely in position in the space between saidlugs.

11. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider having achannel therein for receiving the fastener elements, a pair ofspaced-apart lugs projecting from the upper wing of said slider, anelongated locking member having one end thereof pivotally connected toone of said lugs and a locking projection arranged on the opposite freeend of said member which is adapted to project into the channel of saidslider, a leaf spring member having an aperture arranged therethroughdisposed directly next to the body of said slider between the same andsaid locking member, one end portion of said spring member between saidaperture and one end thereof being disposed between said lugs in thespace therebetween and attached to said slider between said lugs withthe lug to which said locking member is pivotally connected extending upthrough said aperture so that the leaf spring lies therearound the otherend portion of said locking member extending upwardly and outwardly tothe side of the opposite side of said lug abutting the under side ofsaid locking member adjacent the end thereof and acting on said memberto hold the same normally in locked position, and means for moving saidlocking member to unlocked position.

12. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider as defined inclaim 11, wherein the locking member bridges the space between said lugsand a pull member having the trunnion portion thereof loosely disposedin said space so as to be attached to said slider between said lugs bysaid locking member which is secured movably to said lugs.

13. In a slide fastener of the class described, a slider as defined inclaim 11, wherein the leaf spring member is disposed in an elongatedrecess in the top wing of the slider.

NOEL J. POUX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,966,457 Norton et al. July 17,1934 2,234,939 Hatch Mar. 11, 1941 2,289,955 Berg July 14, 19422,296,823 Carlile Sept. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date506,363 Great Britain of 1939 828,314 France of 1938

